CHAPTER 5: Returning

Even before I entered the old temple, I knew things had changed since the last time I was here. I knew I had a purpose, a purpose that'd found place so many years ago – but still hadn't been fulfilled. I smiled to myself when walking towards the one room it had all taken place, deciding the fate of two worthy individuals. It was only a matter of time before the soon to be king would realise the truth about himself, not to mention his old man. I opened the door to where Ulrike would normally be, however I had requested to speak with my old friend alone, if possible. I closed the door behind me, looking towards the shiny crystal placed upon a column.

"So we meet again, Shibuya."

"How could you even think about going to earth, not to mention another world by yourself?" Hahaue shouted.

"I had no idea where you had gone before Ulrike could locate your soul. You could have been hurt, or worse. What if I'd lost you, what would I have done then? Couldn't you for once consider the possible outcome of your actions? You might be the next Maou, and you might be ranked higher than me, but I am your parent and until you reach the age of sixteen I decide when you have permission to leave this castle and when you don't. Understood?" I sighed, nodding slowly. I'd hardly been able to follow what Hahaue had just said as he always spoke too fast when being angry, or rather worried. He sat down on the bed.

"Understood, Hahaue. But it's not like I planned it, a whirlpool just suddenly appeared from underneath me, I couldn't do anythi-"

"Don't make excuses, Ronja. I was worried sick." His voice was rather soft, not angry like it had just been and I knew I was, well at least seventy percent, forgiven. I sat down beside him, resting my head on his shoulder. When he put his arm around me, I knew I would be hundred percent forgiven. And he did.

"You know how to get things the way you want them, yes I forgive you," he said. "Now tell me. What did you do on earth?" I smiled, closing my eyes.

"I thought you didn't wanna' hear about it," I replied jokingly.

"Well.. There's no harm in asking," he laughed. He ran his fingers through my black hair, it sometimes made me wonder. He did it so often that I suspected it for being his hobby. I did enjoy it, though.

"I met Dad's family," I said. "And then me and my uncle went shopping. I actually learnt a couple of new words too. Did you know that they shop in a place called 'the mall'? It's like this big castle, without a king, just shops. And that they have something called photo albums? It's like small paintings, a bunch of them kinda glued all over a book." Hahaue smiled.

"Yes, I know. When your father, I and your uncles went to earth in search for the Mirror At The Bottom At The Sea, I was lucky enough to catch glimpses of your father as little from a photo album. Those 'little paintings' are called photographs, or pictures. Not too sure about that 'mall' though." I nodded.

"Yeah I know. And you know, they have so many weird squares. One called a telephone, with those you can communicate with people even if they're on the other side of the world. Then there's the television. I didn't really understand it, they tried to explain it to me though. And then there's the car, it's like we ride horses to get to far away places. Only.. It's not a horse." Hahaue shook his head, laughing.

"What's so funny?" I said, making a grimace.

"You have definitely inherited your father's weirdness," he replied, patting my back. "How was Miko, Shoma and your uncle?"

"My grandparents seemed to be doing fine, and Yosuke was definitely doing fine." In all honesty I hadn't really known what to say, I wasn't a mind reader like him and couldn't really guess how they had all been doing. Maybe the happy faces were masks – after all they probably missed my father a lot, and seeing his mirror reflection, as a majority of people referred to me as, probably didn't ease the pain.

"Yosuke?" Hahaue asked. I nodded.

"Dad's younger brother." A smile spread across his face.

"So the rumors about your grandmother's pregnancy back then were true."

"Can you imagine that Ronja Heika brought the Great Sage back with him," I said happily, whilst brushing my husband's long, dark hair. Gwendal snarled, the relationship between him and his nephew wasn't the best. Neither was his hair at the moment, I couldn't seem to get it straight no matter how hard I tried.

"Give it up, Günter, my hair's never gonna falter no matter how hard you try." Gwendal was obviously not happy with my 'make Gwendal new' project. I ignored his sentence, and continued brushing his hair. He was going to be surprised when I was done with him, in a positive way. He sighed, and stopped struggling. I'd won. Again.

"Where are the kids?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"Leandra I trying to travel to earth through the fountain again, and Lara is probably with her." I had to giggle at the thought of my oldest daughter, she was always trying to surpass her cousin, the soon to be Maou in everything. When she'd heard about him going to earth, she was determined – she was going too.

"Foolish," Gwendal replied.

"Well you know what Lea is like," I replied. "And as for our third treasure.." I placed a hand on my tummy, a smile spreading across my face. "You know where he, or she's held up."

"For how long was I gone?" I asked Hahaue. We had gone for a walk in the big halls surrounding Blood Pledge Castle, when I had given him his present. It was a frame with something that Jennifer called a post card in it, and the so called post card said 'I love you' in Japanese. Jennifer had told me that if I put the post card in a frame it would look like a normal picture, and Hahaue sure appreciated and treasured the gift.

"Well, long enough to miss the banquet," Hahaue laughed. "King Sararegi was heartbroken when finding out that you weren't present." I frowned when hearing his name.

"Mm, that fool," I replied. "I'm hoping he hasn't sent more marriage proposals while I was gone."

"If he has, I'm sure Raveryn has dealt with them. But, dare I say, king Sararegi is a smart match." His lips shaped into a grin.

"What?" I yelled, surprised by his confession.

"He did unite Big and Small Shimaron after all when king Belal was gone," he continued. "He is a good king."

"I'm too young to get married," I replied. "And I wouldn't marry him anyway."

"Then who would you marry, Ronja?" he asked smiling. I tried to hold it back, but could feel my lips shaping into a smile.

"..Her blonde hair feels like the softest silk, and her shiny blue eyes.. I could drown in them," I whispered. I blushed madly when realising what I had just said, and that Hahaue had heard it.

"But that's.. That's none of your business," I stuttered.

"Hmm, mind you, her father was actually here during the banquet. And she was with him." I froze. Hahaue knew exactly who I was referring to.

"Have you touched her?" My eyes opened wide.

"Have you touched her?" he repeated, when I didn't reply.

"That is a very, very inappropriate questio-"

"'Her blonde hair feels like the softest silk,' you said. I mean, have you been in contact with her," he replied, interrupting me.

"That's none of your business," I wheezed, blushing more. I looked away, and Hahaue giggled. He obviously understood that I actually thought that he meant something.. Inappropriate.

When looking to where we were heading, I noticed the paintings of Shinou Heika, the Great Sage and Dad in front of us. We both stopped, and I couldn't help but admire my father. He looked so glorious, so king-like.

"What was he like?" I asked, breaking the silence. I couldn't take my eyes off my father's painting and had to admit that people were right; looking at him was just like looking into the mirror.

"Your father brought peace to New Makoku," he replied. "He was truly the greatest man I have ever met." His eyes wandered from the painting, to me. "Until you came along of course." I smiled at the compliment.

"I know that he brought peace to our country and all of that," I replied. "But what was he like around you?" Hahaue giggled.

"When he first proposed I knew it had to be him," he replied. "However, the beginning of our relationship was rather complicated, but that's another story. I'd rather not walk down that path again." I nodded.

"I wish I knew him," I said.

"I do too. And every minute of the day, I wish I could brush his black, soft hair." He ran his fingers through mine and smiled. I could clearly tell that it was a sad smile.

"Hahaue?"

"Yes, Ronja?"

"Do you think I can become a maiden? Like Ulrike-sama?" Hahaue giggled.

"I highly doubt it I'm afraid, why do you ask?"

"I want to be able to communicate with him," I replied. "The way I am now there is no way to make it possible." Hahaue looked down, there was something mysterious resting over him, and I knew he was about to say something, reveal something that I might just wanted to hear.

"There is a mirror," he said. "Your father used it once, as far as I know."

"What exactly does this mirror do?" I asked. I had a feeling that I would enjoy the words that were about to escape Hahaue's lips.

"The mirror shows the past." My mouth opened wide.

The mirror shows the past.

"The past," I whispered. Hahaue nodded.

"Then Hahaue," I said. "How come you haven't used this mirror? You can't fool me, I know you still miss Dad. You could have paid him a visit, we could have paid him a visit. And then we could-"

"No." Hahaue's sharp voice interrupted me. "The mirror is like the Maken Morgif, it can only be used by the person with the Maou's powers within him, or her. Besides, seeing your father would have brought back memories, and it would have been very, very difficult for me to return to present time."

"But we could have –"

"No, we couldn't," he said, cutting me off once again. "No matter how much we'd both, we'd all like to, we cannot change the past. And we can't bring him back."

"My apologies, Hahaue. I didn't intend to remind you." A soft smile spread across Hahaue's lips and he caressed my shoulder.

"Don't apologise, Ronja," he replied. I nodded, my pitch black eyes meeting his emerald green.

"Is there any possibility that I could ever use that mirror?" I asked. Hahaue sighed, nodding slowly.

"Of course. You have the Maou's power within you. But if you're trying to ask for permission to meet your father, even though I would like you to more than anything, I cannot let you go." I clenched my fist.

"Why not?"

"What would I do if you were not to return?" Hahaue bit his lower lip. "I wouldn't survive."

"I would definitely return," I said. "There is no way I'd leave you for another life."

"Well you have a mind of your own," Hahaue replied. "That, you have inherited from your father. But I warn you, if you come back just a minute too late you will be grounded for the rest of your life." He put his arm around me, sighing.

"Who would imagine that you would turn out to be like your father," he said. "He didn't have that bratty side of yours though. Oh well, it'll vanish with time." I was about to reply when I heard Lea's voice, calling my name. I turned around seeing her with her little sister, Lara. Both of their hair and clothes were soaked. I frowned, what would Lea want this hour at day?

"What do you want?" I asked. The grin on her face immediately told me that whatever it was, it couldn't possibly be good.

"I have surpassed you, Ronja," she said. "Even without your Maryoku, I have found a way to travel through water."